Ash-glazed tea bowl c. 1990s

This ash-glazed tea bowl was created by Niwa Ryōchi, and it's a lesson in how process can be just as important as the final product. The glaze is uneven, pooling in some areas and almost non-existent in others, which gives it a wonderfully organic feel. Looking closer, the texture is tactile. It’s possible to imagine the artist’s hands shaping the clay, and the fiery kiss of the kiln transforming the surface. There's a certain humility in letting the materials speak. The varying tones of ash create a landscape on the bowl, like mist rolling over a mountain. The simplicity reminds me of Agnes Martin's grids, where imperfection becomes the point. Just as Martin sought transcendence through repetition, Ryōchi seems to find beauty in the wabi-sabi of everyday use. It's a reminder that art, like tea, is best enjoyed when savored slowly, with all the senses engaged.